Is ECV worth it?

[minitoot]

I'm at 37 + 5, with my first baby which is breech. Saw a consultant the other day and she pretty much said categorically that I should have a section at 39 weeks if he didn't turn, since it would be the safest option. She also suggested an ECV at 38 weeks, but said it only has a success rate of 40 - 50%. I'm going to try moxibustion tomorrow.
What I'm wondering is whether the ECV is even worth it, with such a low success rate, even if the risks are minimal. My instinct is that he isn't going to turn and I will end up having a section anyway- and in that case why take the risk of the ECV leading to an emergency section, I'd rather have a planned one.
What do you think? Has anyone any strong feelings one way or another about ECV?

I had an ECV with DD2 - unfortunately was unsuccessful. I had a text book birth with DD1 so was desperate for a similar experience and was petrified of a c section.

However, the c section was lovely, very relaxed and laughing all the way through. The spinal block was the worst bit for me. Recovery was fine (first 24 hours were horrendous but had my gorgeous baby to look at). I kind of feel now that she was the "wrong way" for a reason and should have let nature takes its course.

The ECV was very uncomfortable and a lot more forceful than I had prepared myself for, however she wasn't moving so it probably wouldn't have been so uncomfortable if she had moved.

Now 16 weeks with DC3 and feel completely relaxed with whichever way "it" comes into the world! :)

Hope it all goes well.

Personally I would try an ECV, I think 50% odds of avoiding a section (and the subsequent recovery) is worth a bash. Some women to find it very uncomfortable, some don't have an issue with it all all.

I had an ECV. It worked for me. Uncomfortable at the time but worth it.

Incidentally, I found this yesterday, it's quite interesting to properly see what the Dr is doing

Also, have you looked at Spinning babies (google, t will be top) that's full of info about breech babies and turning them.

This is quite full of info too

I had an ECV with DC2 at 36ish weeks. Didnt work for me (she was footling). Personally i found it quite horrendous - far worse than labour with my first - but being down for a home birth I was so determined not to have a section that I wanted to make sure that I tried everything I could to make her turn. Also used moxi and lots of weird upside down positions with no success.

I had her (very reluctantly) by ELCS @38 wks and it was absolutely fine - i feel so ashamed now that i was so scared and put my DH through hell. I was in hospital for just over 24 hours and recovery was FAR easier than when i delivered DS naturally. She also came out desperate to feed and so I was feeding her within 15 mins, whilst still on the table - it was important to me to have skin to skin with her and so I had this put into my birth plan, and my fantastic CMW who accompanied me and DH to theatre made sure that this happened.

Incidentally my son was also breech until about 37 weeks or so and then turned of his own accord so you never know. They scan you on the morning of the section too, just to make sure.

Good luck!

I'd personally go ahead with the c section - I had one and it was a great experience. I'm 8 weeks postpartum now and my tummy is finally going back to something resembling flat (apart from when i am sitting down lol) and I've been given the go ahead to work out - and the scar is already small and not noticeable. Baby had a relatively stress free entrance to the world as it only took 4 minutes to get him out and while there are drawbacks (sore tummy, harder to hold baby in early days) there are lots of benefits too. People told me I might naturally feel sad as I couldn't do it the natural way but tbh I couldn't care less how he got here as long as he was healthy and my birth could have led to complications for us both without a CS but with the CS it was stress free pretty much for both of us.

Thank you, that's all really useful. I don't mind about how he comes out - I was planning a water birth initially, but I am very pragmatic about it, the safest way is the best way as far as I'm concerned. The first lot of moxi doesn't seem to have done anything at al but I guess we'll press on with it.

I had ECV with dc3 at 37 weeks. It was pretty painless for me (did relaxation and breathing as wanted to avoid the relaxant drugs) and he was turned in seconds. And stayed that way for very easy homebirth thank goodness

I have never known anyone else have it successfully though which I find odd - but it is definitely a procedure that requires skill and well worth doing your research on what your consultants success rates are and requesting the best.

I have know several people whose babies have turned after 38 weeks by themselves though and one who turned in labour!

Fwiw I would have waited for spontaneous labour myself before having the CS as the benefits of baby being ready are so huge.
(actually I luckily had support for vaginal breech BIRTH ( not breech delivery- they are dangerous) so who knows what I would have decided if it had come to the crunch!)

Good luck - have a look at spinningbabies.com too

Bearhugs, what is the difference between a vaginal breech birth and delivery?

Breech birth involves mother spontaneously birthing baby whilst supported to instinctively follow her body (usually on all fours)

Midwives call this 'hands off the breech' because handling the baby interrupts what it needs to do to birth successfully.

Breech delivery involves a woman in lithotomy (on back, feet in stirrups) and an obstetrician with forceps. This is what was proved more dangerous for a breech baby than a CS in the Canadian term breech trial.

Mary Cronk has some good info on it if you google. Also some great vaginal breech births on you tube.

The sad thing is the skills to facilitate hands off the breech with confidence are being lost, depriving us of that as a safe, supported option. There is a great example in Call the Midwife actually!

I opted for an ECV with DC3 when it was discovered he was transverse at 40 weeks plus 2.

This was on a Weds after a regular check up. Had no idea he had moved position. Anyway they booked me in for an ECV on Friday. I rolled up on the Friday only to discover he had moved back head down!

What I am trying to say is that I was willing to try anything to avoid a c section. Mainly because it would have been so inconvenient not to be able to drive for 6 weeks.

bearhugs i too wanted to wait for spontaneous labour with DD but was advised VERY strongly against it (was pretty much told by everyone inc 3 consultants, hosp midwives and my fab CMW who was experienced in breech births, that this was the only way she was going to get here safely), hence her being delivered at 38wks. from what i understand if i had gone into labour of my own accord, her foot would have come first, followed by the cord - which isnt great apparently. it would have been bum in the air time, ambulance and emergency section. as it was her entrance was a lot calmer. so whilst i feel that babies should arrive when they are ready to, sadly this isnt always possible.

i do still wonder however what would have happened if i had refused the section. but then maybe the outcome may not have been so happy..

i do still think its worth trying everything though!!!